Page:Poems Hoffman.djvu/453

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And to extort exorbitant demands
From human anguish, none shall plead God's laws;
And none with lifting of unholy hands
Defend an unworthy cause.

Fear not, O Faith! 'tis here thy sight is dim;
He who could guide through this long, tortuous way,
Will keep the trust committed unto Him
Against that day.

The wrong shall not forever do and dare,
God's mercy is long suffering, Christ hath died;
But not in vain in laboring and prayer
Has earth for justice cried.

Angels may pity, none of vengeance dream,
When fails the feeble arm of human might,
And the great Judge o'er countless worlds supreme
Makes all things right.


FRAGMENT

Better a purpose, pure and true and strong
Than all the gold that this wide world can give;
Better a home within the gate of Heaven
Than here in marble palaces to live.

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